Chapter 1123： lost heavily (1/2)
Everything has its first time. As the first air battle in the true sense of human history, the British paid an expensive tuition with their strength.
Refueling tactics are only suitable for specific occasions. Playing like this in air combat is obviously giving people away.
Unfortunately, Britain has never had air combat experience. After the attack, the British government's first response was to dispatch the air force to intercept it, and did not consider the issue of assembly at all.
Because of the different distances and different reaction speeds, British fighter planes taking off from various airports finally arrived at the front in batches.
The air battle is still going on. After paying a heavy price, the British Air Force on the field finally assembled three-digit fighters. Although still at a disadvantage, the battle is no longer one-sided.
The Shenluo Air Force participating in the battle has already changed a wave. Because of the limited flight time, the previous batch of fighters has returned to the air for rest after completing the mission.
Unlike the first wave that was dominated by bombers, almost all the Shenra fighters in the sky are fighters.
If it is left in the future, everyone will know at a glance that today’s bombing is over, and now it is directed at the main force of the British Air Force.
Anyway, now I can't fight a head-on decisive battle, and the most important thing now is to preserve the vitality. Even if you really have to work hard, you have to change a battlefield that is more beneficial to you.
Below is London. Every time a plane crashes, it is a huge bomb, which is more lethal than any bomb in the world today.
To put it bluntly, the damage caused by the bombing to London was less than one-tenth of the damage caused by a plane crash in air combat.
Obviously, the British government caught in it couldn't think of so much. At this moment, they only have one idea, that is, to assemble more fighters, leave the enemy behind, and wash away today's shame.
As for the resulting ”losses”, the heads are full of anger, but they can't take care of that much.
The anxious battle makes people feel irritable. The air battle does not stop for a moment, and everyone can only stay in the air-raid shelter.
The order in London is out of control. Although the cabinet government has repeatedly ordered to reassure the people, it is still too difficult for the bureaucrats to work under the enemy's fire.
Someone is always responsible for such a big thing. The battle in the sky is not over yet, and the top British government has begun to think about the aftermath.
”Your Excellency, the big business is not good!”
The secretary's voice interrupted everyone's thoughts. Prime Minister Campbell frowned, hurriedly asked: ”Our air force was defeated?”
The flames of war have reached London, and major events have long since gone bad. If there is worse news, it must be that the Air Force was defeated in the air battle.
The enemy is the world's largest air force power, and as a qualified politician, it is natural to plan for the worst in advance.
The defeat of the Air Force is the worst result that everyone expects right now, not one of them.
”No!”
After habitually answering, the secretary quickly explained: ”The battle in the sky is still going on. Although the losses are a bit large, our fighters are coming in a steady stream. It is only a matter of time before the enemy is driven out.
The news just came from the Port of Liverpool that there was also an enemy air attack there, and the defenders requested to send fighters to support. ”
Hearing ”the air battle is still going on”, Prime Minister Campbell's nervousness eased slightly, and then he became nervous again.
In the context of the dominance of the Royal Navy, the British Air Force is only insignificantly better than the Army. The British government, which has not experienced air combat, did not expect this scene to happen at all.
If it weren’t for the Holy Roman Empire’s bloodshed on the air force, ”in line with the thinking that the enemy has, I also want to have”, there would be no air force at all.
Originally started late, but the domestic manufacturing industry fell behind in the second industrial revolution. The air force that followed the trend is naturally not comparable to the Shinra Air Force.
If it were not for the advantages of local operations, air combat would have long been a failure. The current situation is not much better. The fighters participating in the war did not escape, because they simply couldn't escape.
The overall performance of the aircraft can't keep up. After close contact, it can't get rid of the enemy at all, and can only bite the bullet.
It just so happened that the military department issued another death order, and the people below didn't understand the situation in the sky at all, but thought that the air force was fighting bravely.
These issues do not affect Campbell's decision now. London and Liverpool were attacked at the same time, and the British Air Force was unable to take care of both battlefields at the same time.
After a little more thought, Prime Minister Campbell said in an artistic tone: ”Tell the Liverpool defenders to organize air defense by themselves. The reinforcements will arrive in the shortest time.”
What is the ”shortest time” is another unsolved mystery in human history. No one at home or abroad has ever figured it out.
But it happens to apply to the current situation in Britain. If you don't give enough confidence to the people below, chances are that the group of panicked guys have forgotten to organize resistance.
Although it is difficult to resist with limited air defense firepower, it is better to do it than not. Even if it only shoots down an enemy fighter, that is a record.
After sending the secretary to leave, Prime Minister Campbell came over. The Prime Minister personally directs the military battle, and it seems that he has gone astray.
Not every British Prime Minister is Mr. Churchill, who is keen to participate in military command, at least Campbell has no interest in commanding military operations.
Unlike any previous war, the current war requires the joint coordinated operations of the land, sea and air forces.
Anything encountered for the first time is synonymous with trouble. This time is no exception. In addition to considering military command, we must also consider political balance.
It can be said that in addition to letting Edward VII personally come, anyone who serves as a commander of the army, navy and air force will attract criticism.
The problem is that as King Edward VII, even if he is a real power king, he will at best put a name on him, and it is impossible to coordinate the joint operations of the three armies himself.
If it is a tailwind, it is enough to be able to reap political achievements. It is estimated that Edward VII has already jumped out and took over the command of the three armies.
It is a pity that the war has just begun, and Britain has ushered in its darkest day, which has deeply damaged everyone's confidence in winning the war.
Without certainty, the shrewd Edward VII would naturally not appear. Anyway, the daily work is presided over by the cabinet, and now the problem is also the cabinet’s pot, or the kind that can’t be shaken off.
Realizing the seriousness of the problem, Chief Campbell decided to speed up the construction of the command system. After all, the war is better left to professionals.
...
The Port of Liverpool, when the order of the London government arrived, the bombing from the sky was over.
Major General Winston, who looked at the telegram, was heartbroken. Perhaps because of conscience, or to shirk responsibility, the news of air defense early warning finally came.
It came later than the London government’s order to organize resistance on the spot. Except for greeting all the relatives of the relevant bureaucrats from the bottom of my heart, Major General Winston can't do it now.
People's reaction speed is already very fast. According to normal procedures, it will take at least one week to go through the process alone, and it may be possible to delay the first half of the year.